Bag holder or clamp



.(No Model.)

2 Sheets- Sheet ll.

W. J. AYRES.-

BAG HOLDER 0R CLAMP.

Patent@ June 21,1898.

` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.) y W. J. AYRBS.

BAG'H-OLDER 0R GLAMP.

No. 605,838'. Patented June 21,1898.

Y UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WILLIAM J. Avans, oF BRYAN, oI-IIo.

BAG HOLDER OR CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 605,838, dated .rune 21, 1898.

' Application iilecl J'uly Z, 1897. Serial No. 645,287. (No model.)

1'0 L ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM J. AYREs, of Bryan, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag Holders or Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference Abeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,- and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in lmechanism for operating one jaw of a pair of clamping-jaws, and more especially to mechanism constituting a bag-holder in which the clamping edges serve to distend the mouth of the bag to facilitate the entryof grain or other substance t0 be placed in the bag, although, as will be presently explained, features of the invention may be utilized in other structures.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple and efficient mechanism which will clamp firmly and at the same time which may be easily and quickly moved into one position or the other.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a bag-holder embodying onevform of my present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a different form of frame and spring. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of still other embodiments. Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating a simple clamp, showing the manner in which the cumulative force of more than one spring may be utilized if desired. Fig. 52L is a detail side elevation, with parts in section', of the structure shown in Fig. 5. i y j Like letters 'of reference in the several iigures indicate'the same parts. l In carryingthis invention into practice in connection witha pair of clamping-jaws I makeuseof a means for moving. one of said jaws, consisting of a pivoted member which is adapted to move across a center, and in moving up to such center the jaw is given its advance movement, and when the pivoted membermoves across the center further movement is arrested, whereby a lock is constituted for preventing the openingof the'jaws. Obviously this idea may be carried into effect in a variety-ofmechanical embodiments; and hence it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to any; particular embodiment.

Referring now particularly to Fig. l, it will be' seen that upon a base A, I mount a standard B, preferably so as to be capable of a vertical adj ustment-as, for instance, by means of a foot-lever and pawl h, pivoted on the base and adapted to engage with notches or apertures in the standard-and upon the upper end of Athis standard I mount a fixed jaw or distender C, over which one side of the mouth o'f the bag may be turned. This iixed jaw or distender is preferably in this form connected with the standard by arms c, which arms, together with the distender or jaw, may, if desired, bemade of relatively thin metal. Pivoted to the upper end of the standard is the movable jaw D, the pivotal connection beingpreferably made through downwardlyforming projections or offsets, such as d2, on

one of the jaws, orthe jaws may be irregularly shaped withy respectto each other in Vany well-known manner, and, in fact, while I have shown thejaws circular. or curved regularly it is obvious that this shapemay` bevaried to satisfy any particular user or the convenience of the manufacturer.v

A rearwardly-extending bracket or arm E forms a portion of the standardnB, and between the upper end or portion of this rearwardly-extending arm and the movable jaw 'I locate the vcontrolling members for advancing the jaw and holding it clamped against the iixed. jaw. In its simplest form this moving and ,locking or holding mechanism is in the form of a toggle, the ends of the toggles being pi votally connected, respectively, to the jaw and standard, while the intermediate joint is adapted to work up to' and. a 'slightdistance across the center in order to move the jaws together and hold them in-s'uch position.v i

It is desirable that a spring should b'e in-` IOO i l f terposed in the connection at some point in order that the jaws may be brought together with a yielding pressure, and this spring action may be secured by making the arm of the standard elastic or either member of the toggle elastic or by the interposition of elastie members at any point, all as will be presently explained. In the particular embodiment under consideration an upwardlycurved or bow-shaped spring F, pivoted at one end in the extended portion E of the standard, constitutes one of the toggle members, while a yoke G, centrally pivoted in the forward end of the member F and extending around and pivotally connected at g to the backwardly-turned ends ot' the movable jaw, constitutes the other member of the toggle. In operation the spring F forms a handle which may be grasped and the jaws thrown open by swinging the member F on its fixed center, the jaws being thrown to their closed position, as shown in the drawings, with the intermediate center g slightly beyond a straight line interseetin g the centers on which the two members turn, by a reverse movement imparted through the handle or member F, as will be readily understood.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the base and standard are combined in the form of a tripod constructed of three curved pieces H II II, connected centrally and having extending upwardly from their point of connection a central standard II?, which in effect and function corresponds closely to the standard B in Fig. l. The fixed jaw C in this Fig. 2 is mounted upon the upper ends of the curved pieces II II and standard H2, while the movable jaw is pivotally connected to the upper end oi' the central standard Il2 in substantially the manner described in connection with Fig. l. From this movable jaw I) a yoke similar in all respects to the yoke G extends backwardly and is in this instance lettered G', and at its backward extremity or central portion it is pivotally connected to a cooperating toggle member I, the lower end of which is in turn pivoted to the upper extremity of the curved piece Il', forming a portion of the standard. The member I is curved and extended beyond its central connection with the yoke G to form a handle I/, and is substantially rigid. In operation it is similar in all respects to the structure shown in Fig. l. The handle I is grasped and turned from the open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to a closed posit-ion corresponding to the position shown in Fig. l; but the spring action in this instance is secured through the elasticity of the upper end of the piece II', constituting a portion of the frame.

In Fig. 3 the movable jaw D is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly extending spring-arm K, rigidly a-flixed to said jaw at its forward end and having a pivotal bearing at its rear end, in which the angle of a bell-crank lever L is pivoted. This bellcrank lever constitutes on one side of the pivotal connection with the spring K a handle by means of which the device may be manipulated and on the other side or the other arm of the bell-crank lever constitutes one of the pivotal members, whereby the jaw is moved to an open or closed position. The free end of the arm in this instance, however, instead of being pivotally connected directly to the standard or a bracket on the standard, is pivotally connected to the said standard through an intermediate link or links M, which extend forward on each side of the Spring-arm K and are pivotally connected to the standard at a suitable point adapted to permit the links to swing so as to bring the center or pivotal connection between the bell-crank lever and spring K beneath the plane of the links, and thereby constitute a lock for holding the jaws in their closed position. In operating this form of the device the upper end of the bell-crank lever L is grasped and when drawn backwardly will open the jaws; but when pushed forwardly it will force the jaw against the fixed jaw, and by moving the parts to a position as just indicated, with the pivotal connection between the sprin g and bell-crank lever slightly over the center or plane of the other two pivotal connections, the jaws will be locked or held in their closed position. This latter construction may, if desired, be modified by pivoting the bell-crank lever directly to the m ovable jaw instead of to a spring-arm K, as shown, for instance in Fig. fl, wherein the bell-crank lever L' is so pivoted, and its rearwardly-extendin g arms, instead of bein g connected with links, are mounted in or connected together through a slot o in a spring-arm O, connected with the standard or forminga part of the standard. The slot 0 permits of the requisite up-and-down movement of the end of the bell-crank lever and permits said end to move upwardly to a point beyond its center, whereby the pressure exerted will tend to hold the jaws closed, or, on the other hand, the bell-crank lever may be turned down, when the movable jaw will be swung backwardly, as will be readily understood.

In order to illustrate how the invention may be applied to secure the advantage of combined pressure of one or more springs in holding the jaws closed, I have illustrated a simple clamp in Fig. 5, wherein the fixed jaw is lettered C4 and the movable jaw D4. The movable jaw is pivoted on an adjustable support D5, and extending up from this support D5 are two spring-arms I), one, if desired, being somewhat shorter than the other. Arranged between the top or end of the springarm nearest the movable jaw and the upper end of said jaw is a toggle such as hereinbefore described consisting of two members, one, p, pivotally connected at one end to the movable jaw and at the opposite end to another member p', which latter is in turn pivotally connected to the upper end of the spring. One end of the member p is prefer- TOO ITO

ably extended in the form of a handle p2. Thus if the handle be drawn backwardly the toggle is moved up andthe jaw drawn backward; but if the handle be pushed forward the toggle will be moved down across the center to the position indicated in dotted lines and the jaw forced forwardly andagainst the xed jaw. An identical arrangement of levers similarly lettered is provided between the upper ends of the two springs P. Thus it is obvious that if a pressure equal to the pressure of the first spring only is desired the first toggle is thrown down to close the jaws, and if additional pressure is required the second toggle is also thrown down, and, if desired, any number of springs and toggles may be employed, one behind the other. The advantage of this construction will be apparent when it is remembered that with such an arrangement very powerful springs may be employed which would require special machinery to manipulate if taken collectively, but which may be drawn into action successively with the application of a very small amount of power. When the toggles in Fig. 5 are' moved down to and slightly across the centers, they may be held in any preferred,

manner-as, for instance, by one of the members striking the end of the slot in the other member in which it works. The end of the slot is indicated by the dotted line z in Fig. 5 and by the line z in Fig. 5a. A

`Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new isl. In a clamp or holder the combination with the jaws or clamps, one movable toward and from the other, of a mechanism for advancing the movable jaw embodying a pivoted member movably connected with its support and jaw respectively, andadapted when swung onits center to have its free end move across its center of motion to form a lock, and a spring for supporting the jaw with a yielding pressure; substantially as described.

2. In a clamp or holder the combination with the jaws or clamps one movable toward and from the other, of a yielding support embodying a toggle for advancing said movable jaw, said toggle being adapted to move across its dead-center to form a lock; substantially as described.

3. ,In a clamp or holder the combination with the jaws or clamps one movable toward and from the other of a toggle pivotally connected with the jaw at one end and with its support at the opposite end' and a spring interposed at one end of the toggle whereby the jaw is supported with a yielding pressure, said toggle being movable across its deadcenter to form a lock; substantially as described.

. 4. In a clamp or holder the combination with the jaws or clamps one movable toward and from the other, of a toggle having one of its members jointed to the movable jaw and having its' other member jointed to an elastic arm on a suitable support, said toggle being to adapted to move across its center of motion constitute a lock; substantially as described.

5. In a bag-holder the combination with the stand or support and the vxed jaw, of a yielding movable jaw, a yoke having its ends pivotally connected with the ends of the movable jaw and constituting one member of a toggle and a second toggle member pivotally connected-with the stand or support at one end` and with the yoke at the opposite end; substantially as described.

WILLIAM J. AYRES.

l/Vitnesses:

GUY S. MELOY, JOHN B. WHITE. 

